South Africa's AB de Villiers has described Jason Krejza as "nothing too special" as the offspinner cleared his first major hurdle ahead of the opening Test in Perth. Krejza took 1 for 45 from seven overs in Tasmania's one-day defeat to South Australia on Wednesday to continue his recovery from an ankle strain.
While Krejza is seen by Australia as an answer to their slow-bowling woes after taking 12 wickets on debut in Nagpur, de Villiers is not convinced. "They definitely lack in the spin department and the fifth bowler," de Villiers said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "We're not necessarily going to go out and attack that area. It depends on the conditions and the situations you're playing.
"He looks like a normal, orthodox offspinner. There's nothing too special that we've got to worry about."
South Australia's batsmen were also not too bothered by Krejza during their successful chase of 310 in Adelaide and his only wicket came when he bowled Daniel Christian for 52. And Tasmania's captain Dan Marsh employed six other bowlers before calling on Krejza.
"It would've been nice to get out there a little earlier, but that's how the game panned out and I'll bowl when I'm told," Krejza told AAP. "It was always the confidence of getting on that ankle and bowling well, so that worked perfectly and now I can get into the nets and bowl lots of balls."
Krejza was dropped from the Test team for the opening match against New Zealand and then hurt his ankle in the lead-up to the second game, leaving a vacancy for Nathan Haurtiz. Australia have spoken about using a spinner at the WACA and Krejza is almost certain to play if his ankle remains strong.